RIP - Lee Gostolo

Spud · Post by **Spud** » 11 Sep 2007, 08:17

Moderators please could I ask one thing, people respect this thread:

Early this morning got a horrible phone call that Lee Gostolo had died last night after a relatively short illness.

For those who don't know Lee was a "Whip" for many promoters shows. Basically Lee helped out in absolutely anyway he could behind the scenes. He would always be one of the very first people at a venue making sure seating, dressing rooms and anything he could do to help a promoter have a smooth show was done. He would then make sure a boxer was gloved up ready to go in the least amount of stress possible.

Basically to sum up Lee, he was fantastic with everyone he met, he did not give a monkies who you liked or disliked, he just wanted to help you in anyway he could.

Personally, Lee at every single show I worked on would pull me to one side to advise me how to approach things, and on loads of occasion if I forgot something I always knew Lee was there despite having to do his own job was covering my backside.

Lee was just over 41, he leaves behind a lovely wife and son, Lee if you are looking in right now mate, I know you will be cringing at what I have wrote but your family will never be on their own, the boxing family is already pulling together to make sure of that.

Thank you mate for all what you did for me, I might not have always appeared grateful mainly due to be stressed out at shows, but you were for me one of the very best people I met not just in boxing but life!!!

RIP Lee.

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 11 Sep 2007, 08:19

Never heard of this fella but thats the case for most guys who do work behind the scenes..

All the best to his family

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 11 Sep 2007, 08:27

Yet another example of the good dying young.

Being a whip is a difficult and thankless task and Lee always did it efficiently and with good humour.

I never saw him once at a show when he wasn't busy but similarly I never saw him too busy to smile and say hello.

God bless and my thoughts are with his family and friends.

Lightsoot · Post by **Lightsoot** » 11 Sep 2007, 08:49

Lee was a fantastic bloke who made time for everyone, from those at the top to those at the bottom. He was excellent at his job and enjoyed a wonderful rapore with promoters, boxers, fighters and reporters.

This is extremely distressing news and Lee will be sadly missed by so many people within the game.

twenty six · Post by **twenty six** » 11 Sep 2007, 08:57

I am totally empty today.
Lee was a friend.
This really puts the rest of what is going on around me in perspective.
The Sheffield boxing community will gather together for one of their own and do its utmost for his family.
Spud - will be in touch as discussed earlier.
RIP Lee - the best in the business.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 11 Sep 2007, 09:59

I echo Terry's sentiments.

RIP, Lee - sounds like a good bloke.

Anyone know what is illness was, although I would understand if you don't wish to say.

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 11 Sep 2007, 10:26

Nice fella, gutted when I heard. Best wishes to his wife and young child.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 11 Sep 2007, 10:32

R.I.P Lee

Such a terrible shame, my thoughts are with his family.

chris s · Post by **chris s** » 11 Sep 2007, 10:44

A terrible shame, and I think Spud's words say it all.

Last had a chat with Lee at a dinner show in Manchester last May, and as always he found time to have a chat despite running around like a maniac to make sure things ran smoothly.

Lee was man nobody ever had a bad word to say about

A terrible loss of life, condolences to his family

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 11 Sep 2007, 10:57

My God! I met Lee at Nottingham a couple of years ago and he was really helpful (much more helpful than the ITV whip, who actually looks a bit like him). Just plain nice and easy going and easy to talk to.
Andy Whittle will be devastated. They were great friends.

Arnie · Post by **Arnie** » 11 Sep 2007, 11:02

Sorry to hear of this. R.I.P mate

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 11 Sep 2007, 11:05

R.I.P cant put a name to a face, anyone have a picture of him?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 11 Sep 2007, 12:49

REAL_DEAL wrote:R.I.P cant put a name to a face, anyone have a picture of him?

Typically, Tony Connolly took a shot of him for Boxing News at the Derry Matthews-John Mackay show in Liverpool in May 2005.
"You can cross something out but you can never erase it.”

rob h · Post by **rob h** » 11 Sep 2007, 13:14

Terrible news, RIP.

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 11 Sep 2007, 13:45

i chatted to lee about half a dozen times, lovely guy and a great help to promoters etc, spuds words say it all really, im led to believe lee was suddenly taken ill with pancreatic malignancy, this illness is the worst of the worst.

keep on watching the boxing lee, from way up there.

id like to see the BBB of C perhaps nominate an annual award in his name for his services to british Boxing.

perhaps professional prospect of the year or KO of the year. i think the costello cup kind of has a ring to it, who is with me on this ??

and big wigs from the BBB of C who read this, you have the power, so please honour this young man in the best way possible and in a way he would have wished.

best wishes and long health to the family lee leaves behind !

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 11 Sep 2007, 13:46

spud.... was it costello or gostello...im not sure to be honest.

jonp · Post by **jonp** » 11 Sep 2007, 14:55

R.I.P didnt meet him but heard he was a great worker and man.

Howard Foster · Post by **Howard Foster** » 11 Sep 2007, 15:11

As so many of you have already said Lee was one of the nicest blokes ever to meet, God only knows what his poor wife and son must be going through at this horrible and tragic time my heart goes out to both of them and to the rest of his family and friends.
Rest In Peace Lee Mate.
Howard.

contender · Post by **contender** » 11 Sep 2007, 16:03

What a shock and sad loss to the British boxing scene.
Lee was a true gentleman who always greeted you with a warm welcome and made you feel at ease, he had a very calming presence about him.

Prayers and thoughts go to his family in this difficult time.
RIP Lee

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 11 Sep 2007, 16:34

The surname is an unusual one - Gostolo - but one that his son and family can certainly carry around with pride.

Dave Hall, who is a records/rankings/stats man (and nice lad too) was a very good friend of Lee's, as was Andy Whittle.

Lee helped run the North of England boxing awards with Dave which are next scheduled to take place on Sunday 16th December at the Midland Hotel, Manchester.

Typical of him - always looking to recognise others. Lee was nominated (one of a whopping 22) in this year's 'Services to Boxing' category and I voted for him when I completed my form about a month ago.

I'm going to email Dave - who will be devastated - and suggest he re-names the category after Lee, though he deserves more recognition than this.

He'll certainly be missed.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 11 Sep 2007, 16:58

rhino222 wrote:i chatted to lee about half a dozen times, lovely guy and a great help to promoters etc, spuds words say it all really, im led to believe lee was suddenly taken ill with pancreatic malignancy, this illness is the worst of the worst.

keep on watching the boxing lee, from way up there.

id like to see the BBB of C perhaps nominate an annual award in his name for his services to british Boxing.

perhaps professional prospect of the year or KO of the year. i think the costello cup kind of has a ring to it, who is with me on this ??

and big wigs from the BBB of C who read this, you have the power, so please honour this young man in the best way possible and in a way he would have wished.

best wishes and long health to the family lee leaves behind !

Yes, Rhino it is the worst of the worst. I have two close family members have pancratic tumours (a spreading tumour but luckly not malignant)... Both have had had stages where they have been touch and go, but luckily they are both still with us. Prelimary research has shown genetic trends in pancreatic problems and indeed my brother and sisters have been back and fore this last year to Liverpool hospital to be part of a study. We have all declared that we do not wish to know the results, which is expected to claim how likely we are to have problems later in life.

Not only is the pain my family members have/are experience is astronomical (popping Morphine and Tylex like its smarties)... but it also, by some doctors, a problem that is looked down upon - as it is traditionally associated with "drinkers". Neither of my family members have smoked at all or drank more than I would say 10 units a YEAR.

A terrible terrible illness.... of course Pavarotti died of complications relating to Pancreatic Cancer earlier this week.

josh fg · Post by **josh fg** » 11 Sep 2007, 17:57

That is sad, you forget it is a sport that has a lot of good people in it behind all the bitterness and slagging off promoters etc.

What does a Whip in boxing do?

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 11 Sep 2007, 18:20

he chases up the running events of the evening josh, makes sure that the wishes of both the promotor and the tv companies are running to sync and that the right people are in the right place at the right time and with hopefully sufficient notice. its a thankless task but never the less a crucial one, its a role that lee managed with consummate ease on every occasion.

Dave Hall · Post by **Dave Hall** » 11 Sep 2007, 20:30

This is the first time, I have ever participated in any boxing forum, but I feel I must make a contribution into this thread.

Lee Gostolo was my best friend so obviously I feel more qualified than most to talk about the likeable man from Sheffield.

Lee was 42, a big family man who absolutely adored his wife (Lisa) and son (Mitchell), everything he did in life was too benefit his family. Lee was a workaholic who held down a full-time job, managing four small leisure centres’ along with being the busiest whip in Britain working for 14 promoters. He also worked as a floor manager for Sky Sports, he had previously worked for the likes of Hennessy Sports, Matchroom, Maloney Promotions and Fight Academy before getting the Sky appointment.

This thread is much appreciated and Spuds comments are bang on, with everything he say’s and I’m sure Lee would be quite embarrassed with all this. He didn’t realise what impact he had made on the sport and how well liked he was.

Lee would help anyone in boxing, politics didn’t get in the way, it was all about promoting the sport of boxing, something a lot of people could learn from.

I’ve also taken on board what Ian McNeilly said and I will address this tomorrow at a meeting regarding the North of England Boxing Awards.

When Lee was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on the 19th July and people were talking about raising money for him. He used to say I’m only Lee Gostolo nobody’s bother about me, why would they bother about me. I told him, Lee you will be surprised with the feedback I’m getting from the boxing community.

What I will say is that every penny made from the awards will go to the Gostolo family, this is something that I had discussed with Lee and I gave him my word that his family will be looked after (Boxing looking after their own).

RIP “Top Man”

Coco · Post by **Coco** » 11 Sep 2007, 20:47

RIP Lee